Do Philanthropy Differently. Welcome to the Make Shift Happen Conversation Series
By Mia Reilly
In passing the mic, have we passed the buck?
In decentering ourselves, we have avoided the responsibility we have to move the conversation—and therefore each other—in philanthropy.
Does anyone else get squeamish when funders talk about themselves?
As someone whose job it is to help guide the telling of a foundation’s story, I get it. Funders’ overtures about impact have long overshadowed the voices of movement leaders and grassroots organizers on the frontlines of the most important struggles. It hasn’t been a good look—or practice—to be in philanthropy and taking up space in the conversation, so many of us have quieted down and passed the mic.
But have we passed the buck? I worry that philanthropy, in all its discourse to decenter itself, has only avoided the responsibility it has to put a stake in the ground, to say what it means to say and therefore invite the transparency and vulnerability that builds accountability in relationships. In silence grows the haze and murkiness that breeds distrust, sidesteps our role in changing our own narratives, and isolates us from the important work of learning together.
This lack of conversation isn’t just hampering our ability to collectively reflect. When we talk to each other, we exchange visions for the future and build each other’s imaginative muscles for what’s possible.
As we stare down rising authoritarianism here in the US, we need to shore up those muscles—and the community of relationships that keep them strong—like never before.
Speaking up now isn’t just an antidote to the administration’s move to silence and divide their opposition. Alongside a rejection of their fearmongering, our conversations can be a beacon to others who are in this with us, so we can recognize and resource each other with the relationships, learning, and ultimately imagination we need to protect movements for justice and push each other to transform from a structure that consolidates wealth and power to one that redistributes it.
We’re taking steps to open up our conversations, starting with our new video series: Make Shift Happen, where we’ll be sharing conversations with and among friends of Tara Health—movement leaders, fellow funders, partners, and more—about what it will take and what becomes possible when philanthropy truly shifts the flow of power and resources.
We don’t expect the process of opening ourselves up and sharing our stories to be neat, with clear throughlines and tidy resolutions. But we do hope that, when we’re transparent about our experiences (including what's messy and unfinished), we make way for the relationships, accountability, and imagination that have made our own ongoing transformation possible.
Ultimately, we want to offer others what we’ve received in having the immense privilege of doing this work: connection, permission to struggle, evidence that another way exists, and companions for the journey. We want to contribute to the constellation of efforts helping build the field's collective will and capacity to transform. This is work we can’t do alone, and we hope you’ll tune in and stay with us.
First episode drops tomorrow 10am PST on youtube.com/@TaraHealthFoundation— a conversation on the Origins of Philanthropy.
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